Football Special Report: Torres still torn between Anfield and the world, he might actually do better with Liverpool
The new shot caller at Anfield is ready to revive the lost spirit of Liverpool and so far, he seems to be doing a pretty good job. The new manager Roy Hodgson has accomplished what Rafael Benitez had failed at, he has successfully united Liverpool. Well in reality a part of it but even the start of a better future for Liverpool before the start of the season seemed doubtful in the beginning. It seems like the saga of Liverpool has biblically switched from the reign of “Ray of Reds to Roy of Reds”.
With a couple of talented youngster signed, few still in sight and even experienced and major signings taking place, fans have once again assured themselves that Liverpool will live on. Hodgson has even taken care the departure of players and has made it sure that it happens without a hassle. While Yossi Benayoun has departed and David N’Gog and Ryan Babel seem to be on the verge of it along with a definite move of Javier Mascherano to Inter Milan, one has to admire that the former Fulham manager Hodgson has handled everything prudently.
Now just one matter of utmost importance seems undecided and that is would the Spanish star Fernando Torres stay with Reds this season. On that, the Liverpool manager Hodgson has been pretty clear saying that he doesn’t hope that the 26 year old ace is planning a stay at Anfield. Though Torres demanded the signing of world class players, in the team along with removal of Benitez, these things have taken place but much hope doesn’t still lie around.
One reason for the dilemma would be that Liverpool is still trying to contain players in the club and the signings that have already been made don’t exactly qualify for Fernando Torres’ expectations. Though the captain of the Reds Captain Steven Gerrard has announced his allegiance to Liverpool after he successfully convinced Joe Cole to pledge to Anfield, that over all might still not be enough as the finishing 7th Liverpool is not in the Champions League this season.
It has been one of the most popular topics for conversations that if Torres quits Liverpool where would he go. Critics relay that the question the other way around that; if Torres leaves Liverpool who would take him in. Chelsea has withdrawn their offer and other clubs now look less enthusiastic about signing him in. El Nino’s recent performance at The 2010 World Cup in South Africa has left everyone in doubts about his class. At the English Premier League, Torres had 18 goals in 22 appearances and though he was troubled by injuries in the season, he did produce a reasonable performance of 22 goals in 32 caps.
After Rafa’s transfer to Inter Milan, there have been no clear statements made by Torres who had a dismissive performance at the World Cup being demoted from the first team to the substitute and even then, he failed to spark and ignite. In the last moments of the final, he sang his swan song while tearing his calf muscles and though the victory ended for Spain in jubilation, he was exuberant about it but not about his personal performance.
Torres has been an essential part of the English club. He has produced 56 goals in 79 matches since his signing in 2007 from Atletico Madrid for whom he had 82 goals in 214 appearances. Hodgson upon his arrival in Anfield stated about the star striker, “He is not for sale and we don't welcome any offers for him. We want to keep him”. Throughout the season bids for have been piling up form top notch clubs around the world. Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea have been the most consistent ones with offers of up to 50 million pounds.
Hodgson has revealed that talks with his managing director Christian Purslow are in process and time has been given them for a final answer, “Christian Purslow has been talking to Fernando Torres for the last two days so I think there has probably been lots of words from Fernando Torres but I haven't actually spoken to him”.
Hodgson told that after the revival of the club with Cole and Gerrard, he Hopes Torres will stay too, “Hopefully that will soon be followed by Fernando Torres and then we can start thinking about one or two other signings that we would like to bring in to strengthen the squad even more”.
He added, “Then we can start hopefully on Monday meet a percentage of the players who played in the World Cup and start getting down to some serious work”.
Hodgson also gave information on the Mascherano situation saying that he still hasn’t had a chance two talk to the Argentinean player. The 62 year old former Fulham manager however said that he is not worried about his situation and he will talk to him when he arrives back from his vacations. The manager explained, “Mascherano is on holiday. He's not due back until August 5th, so when he returns to the club I'll be speaking to him, not before then.”
He also had words on Gerrard’s commitment to his boyhood club, he commented, “Wanted time to consider a possible option that he had but I was always optimistic that he would stay with Liverpool because he's the heart and soul of Liverpool and it would have been a major blow to lose him.”
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